Wallabies' task not impossible, says yachting great Jimmy Spithill

Jimmy Spithill, who led one of the greatest comebacks in sport skippering Oracle Team USA to victory in the America's Cup against Team New Zealand last year, has a message for the Wallabies whose backs are firmly against the wall.

As the Wallabies prepare to try for the "impossible" in many minds and beat the All Blacks in Brisbane on Saturday, Spithill, whose crew fought from 8-1 down in the cup to win 9-8, says: "First of all, it is not impossible. It is clearly possible".

"I think Australians and Australian sport, and more importantly … look back at the Anzacs, the Diggers, and special forces … they all have in common that absolute fear of letting down their mates."

It is such a mindset that Spithill and his crew had in defending their hold on the Auld Mug.

Advertisement

As Spithill says of winning the series, and beating a New Zealand crew to do it: "There is nothing better …"

Spithill, from Sydney, nicknamed the "Pitbull" for his aggressive racing tactics - especially at the start - and a nominee for ISAF Sailor of the Year to be announced next month, also has a message for Wallabies captain Michael Hooper.

Hooper has not only been scrutinised for his leadership on-field but off it - recently for supporting Kurtley Beale who faces an ARU code of conduct tribunal for allegedly distributing images and text messages referring to former Wallabies business manager Di Patston.

Spithill, 35, knows what it is like to be a leader so young and under the microscope. In 2000 at age 20, he was the youngest America's Cup skipper, on Syd Fischer's Young Australia.

Despite all that has unfolded in recent days, Spithill says Hooper should think of only one thing right now - Saturday's game and of trying to turn around the 51-20 thrashing by the All Blacks at Eden Park when the two sides last met.

To Hooper, Spithill says: "Draw from your teammates. Don't get involved in distractions off-field. Focus all your energy on-field. You've only got so much time and energy.

"All that matters is themselves … if something tries to get between them, it's like packing a scrum: they must pull themselves tighter together and refuse to get broken up because that's all that matters - your teammates."

Even if the Wallabies are still needing added motivation during the game, Spithill says they need only look across the back line and one very special teammate among them - Adam Ashley-Cooper who will be playing his 100th Test.

"To think about that as a bit of motivation … there is enough motivation as it is, but wouldn't that be the icing on the top for Adam to have his 100th game as a win?"

Spithill's words carry weight. While technology played a huge role in Oracle Team USA's victory over Team New Zealand, the Sydneysider still had to inspire and lead his crew, and know they had the self-belief to be "relentless" to the bitter end.

But Spithill says their feat was not just to fight back from 8-1 down, draw level and then win the cup decider.

It was also a feat handling the setbacks from lead-up incidents before the cup series began, which - while not of the nature the Wallabies are facing as the World Cup year approaches - nonetheless could have compromised their campaign.

During the cup series, one of Spithill's crew, Dirk de Ridder, was found guilty of illegal modifications to their AC45 boat used in the world series in early 2012. Oracle Team USA was made to pay a $US250,000 fine and cut de Ridder from the crew.

Another costly incident was the misadventure of a training sail on October 16, 2012 when Oracle Team USA's AC72 suddenly pitch-holed when he was at the helm.

"It's what you are going to do in the tough times [that counts]," Spithill says. "No matter how well you set out the road map ahead, there are always a few bumps.

"When you're winning everyone gets along, times are good. But in tough times - times of adversity or losses - that is when you see the guys you want around you."

For the Wallabies, such times are now.

Against the odds

Tom Chadwick looks at five underdog triumphs:

1500-metre Olympic freestyle final, 1996

Viruses, injuries, form slumps and a negative mindset - these were some of the debilitating obstacles that Kieren Perkins had to overcome on his way to an incredible gold medal at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Unable to train in the lead-up to the meet, Perkins did not manage to qualify for the 400 metres final, and barely scraped into the final of his pet 1500-metre event in lane eight after battling a stomach illness and a recently revealed panic attack during the heats. In a resounding display of determination, Perkins shook off these ailments and produced one of the swims of his career, beating countryman Daniel Kowalski and recording an unforgettable victory.

America's Cup, 1983

"Any boss who sacks anyone for not turning up today is a bum." The immortal words of prime minister Bob Hawke captured just how monumental Australia's victory over the United States in the 1983 America's Cup truly was. Having gone undefeated since 1851, the 132-year reign of the New York Yacht Club still stands as the longest winning streak in the history of sport, and after falling 3-1 behind in the best of seven race series, the likelihood of Australia II Skipper John Bertrand and his crew snatching the crown from the legendary Dennis Conner and Liberty seemed all but nil. However, the Australians were able to surmount the unlikely odds and take the final three races, to the delight of waking Australians around the country, reinvigorating the famous competition and creating one of the nation's proudest moments.

Buster Douglas v Mike Tyson, 1990

"Iron" Mike Tyson entered his championship bout with relative unknown James "Buster" Douglas in February 1990 as the undefeated, undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, boasting a professional record of 37-0 and the reputation of being one of the most dominant figures in the history of the sport. Battling the flu and the recent passing of his mother, Douglas, with odds of 42-1 being offered about him winning, was expected to be little more than a speed bump for the indomitable Tyson. That was of course until shockwaves were sent through the sporting community as "Buster" knocked the champ out in the 10th round and claimed one of the most unlikely championships in boxing's illustrious history.

European Football Championships, 2004

Having been drawn in a group with three football powerhouses in Spain, Russia and tournament hosts Portugal, Greece's first appearance for 24 years in the UEFA European Championships in 2004 was widely predicted to be short-lived. At odds of 150-1 to claim the top prize, advancing from their pool after stunning Portugal 2-1 in the opening match seemed an outstanding effort. The Greeks however, were far from finished and went on to post 1-0 victories in the knockout stages over reigning champions France, title contenders in the Czech Republic, and then finally in a rematch against Portugal in the final to etch themselves into sporting folklore.

Ice hockey final Winter Olympics, 1980

Do you believe in miracles? A fairytale plucked straight from Hollywood studios, no list of underdog stories can be compiled without including Team USA's ice hockey success at the 1980 Winter Olympic Games at Lake Placid. In the midst of the Cold War and facing a Soviet side that had claimed six of the previous seven gold medals in this event, Minnesota native Herb Brooks and his ad hoc team of collegiate and amateur players were able to pull off an astounding 4-3 win over the seemingly untouchable Soviets en route to the gold medal. Later dubbed the "Miracle on Ice" after broadcaster Al Michaels' famous call, this improbable victory sets the benchmark for underdog triumphs.